The old CN building, opened in 1927, will soon be the new home to Iron Horse Distillery this summer (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

NEW DISTILLERY

‘This is a great fit for our local community’: New distillery hoping to revitalize piece of Kamloops history

Apr 29, 2021 | 12:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — Steve Earl and John Hromyk think they have the next big idea for Kamloops.

Iron Horse Distillery, as it’s being called right now, would be built next to the old CN station downtown. There would be a tasting room inside the 94-year-old heritage building that was last host to The Keg.

“We’ve seen success our wine industry has seen with the Kamloops Wine Trail and our local breweries, and the distilling and spirits world is just the next step in that evolutionary phase right now,” said Earl, a lead liason for Iron Horse Distillery. “This is a great fit for our local community first and foremost but also for the many visitors that would normally come into Kamloops.”

The hope is to open the tasting room — and potentially a restaurant, depending on COVID restrictions — in August, while the distillery gains approval from the city.

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“The main floor first, we would be doing a tasting room and using the existing infrastructure that’s there, as well as getting the bar going,” noted Hromyk. “That will allow us to spill out onto patio and start building some cash flow into the location here in, we hope, July or August.”

Earl threw out the idea of a distillery to Hromyk, an old friend who runs Alberta-based Two Pine Ventures, which already have distilleries and produce vodka, gin and malt whiskeys.

“I already have operating facilities and I’m able to not only start bringing our own product in under the SnoDay label, but we’re able to start incubating our recipes for our new label, which will be a Kamloops label, and we’re going under the name Iron Horse at this point,” said Hromyk.

John Hromyk, left, and Steve Earl are partners in the new distillery downtown (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

The old CN building, opened in 1927, has been empty for the last five years. The Keg was the last tenant, permanently closing in 2016. The Culos Group out of Kelowna acquired the building with the intention of building condos.

This group is in the process of buying the building for $2.5 million and welcoming whiskey lovers. They feel it’s the perfect location for their vision.

“To be right on the railway track, to embrace the history and all the stories that go along with this particular building in this area. We’re going to have a real focal point and a world-class location for folks to come and enjoy,” said Hromyk.

They are still looking for investors — in touch with some high-profile Kamloops people. The idea is revitalize the building and the entire downtown to give people incentive to come.

“First of all, you’re revitalizing that’s been part of this community since 1927 and has such a heritage, and then you’re adding in that amenity. People from Rocky Mountaineer come into town, and what can you do? Well, to be able to go and do a tour through a working distillery and buy something that’s uniquely Kamloops to take back with you. Visitors are looking for that.”